CUCARD News

March 1, 2019

Adult Social Anxiety Group

Group Therapy Program for Adults (ages 29 and over)with Social Anxiety

The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) is pleased to announce a cognitive behavioral group therapy for adults who have experienced difficulty in social situations due to anxiety, avoidance, or social skills deficits.

Groups focus on:

·Building coping skills - relaxation training, role playing, feedback

·Exposure exercises to reduce anxiety in social situations

·Cognitive re-framing to challenge anxious thoughts

·Discussion about common concerns such as work-related anxieties, making meaningful relationships, dealing with social media, and conversing with colleagues

Individuals will learn to:

·Create concrete social goals to work toward

·Cope with the physical symptoms of anxiety

·Develop skills to identify and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns

·Problem-solve and assert themselves in social situations

·Use feedback to understand consequences of specific social interactions

Dr. Anne Marie Albano runs Groups for Parents of Young Adults with Anxiety

Parenting Your Anxious Emerging Adult

The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) is pleased to announce an educational group program for parents of emerging adults with anxiety disorders. This group is ideal for parents of young adults who have been experiencing distress or "failure to launch" and meet the demands of emerging adulthood due to anxiety.

The next Parenting Group will begin in February and will meet on Wednesday evenings.

Groups are part of our Launching Emerging Adults Program (LEAP) and include:

· Education about anxiety in the emerging adult

· An overview of the tasks and challenges of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood

· Skills for parents to challenge and change their child's negative thinking styles

· Strategies to increase adaptive communication between you and your young adults

· Practice in appropriate limit setting

· Methods to assist your emerging adult in negotiating important life transitions

· Skills to help your young adult achieve developmental milestones

· Strategies for your own self assessment of what helps or hinders your young adult

This program is presented in a 6-week group learning approach to practice skills and increase self efficacy in parenting anxious young adults in anxiety-provoking and developmentally challenging situations (e.g., job/college interviews, dating, assertiveness).

Groups are led by Dr. Anne Marie Albano, the developer of the "LEAP" program and a noted authority in the treatment of anxiety disorders in youth.

We welcome active collaboration with current care providers around goals and objectives.

This program is offered as part of the Youth Anxiety Center of NYP at CUCARD.

High School Social Anxiety Group 2019

Evening Adolescent Social Anxiety Group

The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) is pleased to offer cognitive behavioral group therapy for adolescents ages 14-17 who have difficulty in social situations (e.g. making new friends, participating in class) due to anxiety, avoidance, and fear of being negatively evaluated by others. Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy for Adolescents (CBGT-A) is an evidence based program developed by CUCARD Director Dr. Anne Marie Albano and colleagues.

The group will meet one evening per week for 10-12 weeks.

Groups focus on:

-Education about the nature of anxiety and cognitive behavioral therapy

-Building skills for social communication, assertiveness, and problem solving

-Cognitive re-framing to challenge anxious thoughts

-Exposure exercises to reduce and learn to cope with anxiety in social situations

Adolescents learn to:

-Create concrete social goals

-Cope with the physical symptoms of anxiety

-Identify and challenge unhelpful thinking

-Use problem-solving and assertiveness skills in social situations

-Use feedback to build social skills

Please contact the Group Coordinator, Schuyler Fox, for more information at (212)-342-1066 or Schuyler.Fox@nyspi.columbia.edu

December 1, 2018

Middle School Social Anxiety Group

Group Therapy Program for Boys and Girls (ages 10-13) with Social Anxiety

The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) is pleased to announce a cognitive behavioral group therapy for boys and girls ages 10-13 (grades 5-8) who have difficulty in social situations due to anxiety, avoidance, or social skills deficits.

Our 10-week groups are formed based on children’s age and maturity. The next group will begin in December 2018 and will meet on Monday evenings.

Groups focus on:

-Skill building, relaxation training, role playing, feedback

-Exposure exercises to reduce anxiety in social situations

-Cognitive re-framing to challenge anxious thoughts

-Discussion about common concerns such as peer pressure and social media

Children learn to:

-Create concrete social goals to work toward

-Cope with physical symptoms of anxiety

-Develop skills to identify and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns

-Problem-solve and assert themselves in social situations

-Use feedback to understand consequences of specific social interactions

Intensive Young Adult Group

Group Therapy Program for Young Adults with Social Anxiety: Intensive Group during August

The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) is pleased to announce an intensive cognitive behavioral therapy group for young adults (ages 18-28) with social anxiety. This group is ideal for young adults who have been experiencing distress or interference in functioning due to anxiety.

-Groups are part of our Launching Emerging Adults Program (LEAP) and include:• Skill development in identification and correction of maladaptive thought patterns• Methods for management of somatic symptoms of anxiety• Skills training and education to negotiate important life transitions• Social and assertiveness skills• Strategies for regulating emotions and stress levels

All the above is presented in a group exposure-based approach to reduce anxiety and increase self efficacy in managing anxiety-provoking and developmentally challenging situations (e.g., job/college interviews, dating, assertiveness). Exposures are conducted in session but also in the community and real settings where the challenges occur.

This group will be a two week intensive group that will meet daily starting in early August. Groups are led by our staff and are part of the Youth Anxiety Center of NYP.

We welcome active collaboration with current care providers around goals and objectives.

College Readiness Groups for Summer 2018

The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) is pleased to offer College Readiness groups as part of our Launching Emerging Adults Program (LEAP). The main aim of the group is to assist young adults with gaining knowledge and skills to aid the transition to college.

The intensive group will meet on June 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 from 11-12:30pm

The College Readiness Group involves:

-Assessment of social-interpersonal skils and readiness for independence

-Education about anxiety, develoment, and the transition from home to college life

-Role play and real-time practice in handling college situations: doing college interviews, traveling on one's own, interacting with professors, finding friends on campus, seeking out resources such as tutors and office hours, making appointments and managing health care. The aim of these exposure role plays is to increase the student's ability to manage these situations independently. Exposures are also facilitated by the use of our Virtual College environment

Please contact the Group Coordinator, Schuyler Fox, for more information at (212) 342-1066 or Schuyler.Fox@nyspi.columbia.edu

February 15, 2018

Young Adult Independence Skills Group

Heading: Intensive Group Therapy Group for Emerging Adults with Anxiety

The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) offers Adult Independence Skills groups as part of our Launching Emerging Adults Program (LEAP). The main aim of the group is to assist young adults with gaining independence and mastering daily tasks.

Introducing Virtual Reality for Social Anxiety and the Transition to College

CUCARD has partnered with a technology startup company, Headset Health, to develop a novel immersive virtual reality (VR) program. Our program, among the first of its kind, was designed for use with adolescents and emerging adults struggling with social anxiety and/or the transition to college. The VR scenarios take place in virtual dorm rooms, parties, and classrooms and offer skill-building in assertiveness, social skills, and anxiety management, as well as exposure to anxiety-provoking situations (e.g., asking a professor for an extension, meeting new people at a party). CUCARD clinicians are currently using the VR program during the assessment process, as well as during individual and group treatment.

For more information, please contact Dr. Lauren Hoffman at 212-342-0969.

May 19, 2017

Summer Phobia Intensives for Kids and Teens

Does your child have an intense fear of dogs? Insects? Heights? Thunderstorms? Needles?

Summer break is an excellent time for children and teenagers to face their fears without the added demands of the school year.

This specialty program is led by Dr. Kristin Kunkle, a licensed clinical psychologist at The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD), a ColumbiaDoctors clinic located at 3 Columbus Circle (Broadway between 57 Street and 58 Street), Suite 1425.

For more information, please contact Yael Warach, CUCARD's Program Coordinator, at 212-342-0951.

May 1, 2017

"Adulting" Group: Skills for overcoming anxiety and the transition into adulthood

Intensive group treatment will be offered to support emerging adults in developing and refining the skills they need as they transition into independent adulthood. Groups will meet four mornings a week for two weeks. Material will be tailored to cover the specific areas that group members identify to be most important for their own growth. Sessions may include skills such as organization, time management, effective communication with peers and professors, healthy sleep habits, emotion regulation, and managing adult responsibilities. Emphasis will be placed on setting and executing daily goals, overcoming anxiety and mood symptoms, and working towards long term goals. Emerging adults will leave the group prepared with the skills they need to succeed during this important and exciting transition into adulthood.

April 24, 2017

College Readiness Groups for Summer 2017

College Readiness Groups are part of our Launching Emerging Adults Program (LEAP) and include:

-Assessment of social-interpersonal skills and readiness for independence

-Education about anxiety, development, and the transition from home to college life

-Role play and real-time practice in handling college situations: doing college interviews, traveling on one’s own, interacting with professors, finding friends on campus, seeking out resources such as tutors and office hours, making appointments and managing health care. The aim of these exposure role plays is to increase the student’s ability to manage these situations independently

-Organizational skills and time management

-Sleep hygiene training and tips for managing sleep independently

Skills are presented in a group exposure-based approach to reduce anxiety and increase self efficacy and independence in managing anxiety-provoking and developmentally challenging situations through the transition to college/independent living. Exposures are conducted in session but also in the community and real settings where the challenges occur. Faculty from our program serve as role players for these groups.

This group is offered intensive (daily for 1-2 weeks), short term (twice weekly for 5-6 weeks) or longer term (10 weeks) depending upon the individual teen’s needs. Our summer college readiness groups will be available starting in June. Groups are led by senior clinicians at CUCARD.

We welcome active collaboration with current care providers in developing realistic goals and objectives.

·Weekly parent training meetings to help manage disruptive home behavior

Location:CUCARD at 3 Columbus Circle

Dates: July 10th - August 4th

The camp is intended for emerging or repeating Kindergarteners with mild to moderate disruptive classroom behavior. It is led by Dr. Vasco Lopes, senior clinical psychologist at CUCARD and coordinator of the Program for ADHD & Disruptive Behavior. For more information, contact our referral line at 212-342-0951.

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.92y.org/Event/Lena-Dunham-and-Anne-Marie-Albano

January 18, 2017

Starting Social Anxiety Groups for Children, Adolescents, and Adults for February 2017

CUCARD is planning to launch the following social anxiety groups in February, 2017:

Middle School Social Anxiety Group (Ages 10-13)

High School Social Anxiety Group (Ages 14-17)

Young Adult Social Anxiety Group (Ages 18-28)

For more information on these groups, please call 212-342-0951.

November 15, 2016

Launching Parent Group for Parents of Children with ADHD/Oppositional Behavior - January 2017

In January 2017, CUCARD will be launching a group for parents of children with ADHD or disruptive behaviors. Parents attending this group do not need to have a child in treatment at CUCARD. Throughout this 12 session group, parents will learn to:

Announcing Clinical Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunities

Clinical Postdoctoral Fellowships in Anxiety Disorders

Clinical postdoctoral fellowships are anticipated starting between July 1-Sept 1, 2016 at the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD). Primary responsibilities include conducting diagnostic/intake evaluations and individual, family and group psychotherapy utilizing empirically supported treatments. School evaluations, treatment planning and consultation, and behavioral programming are also conducted as needed. Applicants should have a strong background in CBT and experience evaluating children, adolescents or adults using the ADIS interviews and treating patients across the anxiety disorders spectrum and including OCD and school refusal behavior. Experience with The Coping Cat and related empirically supported treatments, and also those with a focus on adolescents making the transition to adulthood will strengthen an application. Opportunities for teaching, publishing, and professional presentations are also made available. Qualified applicants should hold a PhD or PsyD from an APA-approved clinical psychology program, with completion of an APA approved internship.

CUCARD is comprised of a highly energetic, vibrant, and fun group of clinical psychologists who all have expertise in treating anxiety and mood disorders. The postdoctoral fellow will be supervised by our licensed staff including Dr. Albano, will conduct group therapies with Dr. Albano and other staff members, and will be mentored individually and by the collective group. Participation in ABCT and APA's Division 53 will be encouraged and benefits include a travel stipend. Applicants should send a cover letter, vita, and three letters of reference by regular mail to:

CUCARD Westchester is an outpatient treatment clinic in the Child and Adolescent Division of Columbia University's Psychiatry Department and is located in Westchester, NY. CUCARD Westchester specializes in the diagnostic assessment and evidence-based treatment of anxiety, OCD and related disorders in children, adolescents and young adults, with focus on accelerated treatment programs for youth exhibiting marked impairment in their functioning at home or school. We are recruiting a clinical postdoctoral fellow to begin in the summer of 2016. The postdoctoral fellowship at CUCARD Westchester provides specialized training in the assessment and cognitive-behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders and OCD. The postdoctoral fellow will conduct diagnostic assessments and cognitive-behavioral treatment in individual and group formats, and will gain experience providing accelerated treatment up to five times weekly. Postdoctoral fellows will receive weekly supervision and will attend didactic seminars both at CUCARD Westchester and within the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. There will also be opportunities for teaching and professional presentations. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree from an APA-accredited institution. Applicants should have experience providing cognitive-behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders, and particularly exposure-based interventions, as well as considerable experience in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents.

To apply, please send a cover letter, CV and three letters of recommendation to:

Launching Fall 2015 Young Adult Anxiety Group Therapy Program

Fall Group Program for Young Adults (ages 18-28) with Anxiety

The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) is pleased to announce the start of our fall cognitive-behavioral groups in the NYPH Youth Anxiety Center (YAC) for young adults (ages 18-28) with anxiety disorders.

Skill development in identification and correction of maladaptive thought patterns

Methods for management of somatic symptoms of anxiety

Skills training and education to negotiate important life transitions

Social skills, problem solving, and assertiveness training

Strategies for regulating difficult emotions and stress levels

Separate group meetings for parents

Skills are presented in a group exposure-based approach to reduce anxiety and increase self efficacy and independence in managing anxiety-provoking and developmentally challenging situations (e.g., job interviews/, advocating for one’s self, dating, meeting new people, assertiveness, speaking with persons in authority). Exposures are conducted in session but also in the community and real settings where the challenges occur.

This group is short term (10-12 weeks) and will meet weekly. Our fall groups will be available starting mid November. Groups are led by our YAC staff at CUCARD.

We welcome active collaboration with current care providers in developing realistic goals and objectives. Separate parent-young adult "transition sessions" are offered to promote independence and address family concerns.

Dr. Albano at the APA Conference

Launching our summer College Readiness group therapy program for emerging adults with anxiety

Summer College Readiness Group Therapy Program for Emerging Adults with Anxiety

The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) is pleased to announce the start of our summer cognitive behavioral groups in the NYPH Youth Anxiety Center (YAC) for young adults (ages 18-28) with anxiety disorders.

Assessment of social-interpersonal skills and readiness for independence

Education about anxiety, development, and the transition from home to college life

Skills training in managing difficult emotions and frustrations, social skills, and problem-solving skills

Role play and real-time practice in handling college situations: traveling on one's own, interacting with professors, finding friends on campus, seeking out resources such as tutors and office hours, making appointments, and managing health care. The aim of these exposure role plays is to increase the student's ability to manage these situations independently

Organizational skills and time management

Skills are presented in a group exposure-based approach to reduce anxiety and increase self efficacy and independence in managing anxiety-provoking and developmentally challenging situations (e.g. interviews, advocating for one's self, dating, meeting new people, assertiveness, speaking with persons in authority). Exposures are conducted in session but also in the community and real settings where the challenges occur.

This group is short term (4-6 weeks) and will meet two or three times per week. Our summer College Readiness groups will be available starting in June. Groups are led by our YAC staff at CUCARD.

We welcome active collaboration with current care providers in developing realistic goals and objectives. Separate parent-young adult "transitition sessions" are offered to promote independence and address family concerns.

Anxiety in College Students

Rather than excited and engaged in college life, students who suffer with anxiety wind up avoiding their schoolwork, making new friends, engaging with professors, and settling in to the campus routine. Learn ways to spot the signs of too much anxiety and how to help the college student to tackle anxiety and move forward in healthy ways.

January 23, 2014

Social Anxiety in Teenagers

Dr. James Hambrick and Dr. Anne Marie Albano discuss how to spot social anxiety in your teenager, the ways that social anxiety takes your teen off track, and the latest in how to treat this common and debilitating anxiety disorder.

January 24, 2012

Social Phobia and School Refusal

Dr. Albano talks about social phobia and school refusal in children with Dr. Susan White. Learn about these conditions and what parents can do to help their child.

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